Handle reinforcing device



v. J. KOSIANCIC 2323 545 HANDLE REINFORCING DEVICE Filed Dec. 29, 1941 Ida Juiy 6, 1943.

INVENT R Va .2 nil 716 KoSLC/LCZC W AtlorneV Patented July 6, 1943 UNITE-D stares rraa'r orrica HANDLE REINFORCIN G DEVICE Valentine John Kosiancic, Crescent Valley, British Columbia, Canada Application December 29, 1941, Serial No. 424,842

1 Claim.

This invention relates to attachments for hand tools and more particularly to a handle reinforcing member.

The principal object of the invention is to provide means to strengthen the wooden handle of hammers and similar hand tools to prevent cracking or splitting of the said handle.

Another object of the invention is to provide means, in combination with the reinforcing member to secure the tool head to the handle by wedging the said handle in the eye of the tool head.

Still another object complementary to the above is the provision of means to wedge the reinforcing member in the slot of the handle, said means being loosened at will when it is desired to drive the reinforcing member farther into the handle whereupon the reinforcing member may again be wedged in the slot.

Still further objects of the invention are to devise a reinforcing member that will not increase the weight of the tool to any appreciable extent and will not interfere with the normal handlin of the tool.

In its more specific aspects the invention consists of a handle for hammers and similar hand tools which is slotted from that extremity of the handle which fits into the eye of the tool to a predetermined distance down the said handle. A metal plate is inserted in the said slot and secured therein. In the alternative, advanced, form I enlarge the end of the metal plate so that it performs a wedging action and spreads the handle in the eye of the tool.

With the above noted and other objects in view which may appear as the description proceeds the invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of cooperating parts as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in the accompanying drawing forming part of this application and in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a hammer cut away in part to show the reinforcing member.

Fig. 2 is a view of the edge of the hammer handle showing the reinforcing member of Figure 3.

Fig. 3 is a detailed fragmentary perspective view of the wedge portion of the reinforcing member of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 consists of sectional views taken along the lines 4a4a, ib-4b, and lo-4c, of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an elevation view of another form of reinforcing member.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view 6-6 of Fig. 2.

taken along the linev Fig. '7 is a sectional view taken along the line 1- of Fig. 2.

Referring more in detail to the drawing in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views it will be seen that the invention consists of :areinforcing member ID, which, in its elementary form is a relatively thin metal plate, the edges of which coincide with the shape of the top and bottom faces of the handle, 1. e., when the implement is in a normal striking position as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The hammer handle I l, is bifurcated from the end which fits into the eye of the tool head I2, to a predetermined distance down the handle. The distance corresponding to the length of the reinforcing member Iii. The said reinforcing member is disposed w'thin the slot and securely riveted or otherwise secured therein as shown at l3, in the simplified version of Fig. 1.

In this manner I internally brace the handle from the extremity, past the neck, to the gripping portion so that the strain imposed on the said handle is largely taken up by the metal plate. The handle is then secured in the eye of the tool head in the usual manner.

In the foregoing example it i necessary to locate the reinforcing member in the handle before the handle is inserted in the hammer head because of the shoulder Illa, on the said reinforcing member which corresponds to the shoulder formed on the hammer handle.

In the modified device illustrated in Figs. 2-4, and 6 and '7, the end of the reinforcing member is wedge shaped l4, and elongated apertures [5, are cut in the plate to receive the bolts It, so that the said plate may be driven lengthwise while restricting any lateral movement in the hammer handle. The set screws IE, will be hereinafter described in detail.

In the present instance the handle I l, is bifurcated in the same manner as described above, the said handle is first inserted in the eye of a tool and the reinforcing member driven into the slot until the effect of the wedge member [4, is utilized whereby that portion of the handle located in the eye of a tool is spread to frictionally grip the walls of the tool eye. The bolts it, are then tighten-ed through the handle and plate. It will be seen that as the handle shrinks or for any other reason becomes loose in the eye the reinforcing member can be driven further along the slot until the slack is again taken up by the action of the wedge portion Hi.

This construction necessitates loosening the reinforcing plate in the key of the handle so that the Wedge portion may be driven into the eye of the tool head. To tighten the plate after the wedge has been driven in the required distance I provide the bolt IS, with a shoulder l1, which receives a leather or rubber collar I8, disposed between the said shoulder and the reinforcing member l (Figs. 6 and 7). The bolt is also provided with a nut are oppositely disposed, that is, the pressure exerted by the bolts is from each side of the reinforcing member so that the same is crimped in the slot thereby providing a secure locking means comparable to the rivets of Fig. 1, which nevertheless may be loosened when desired.

It is believed that the construction and advantages of the invention shown may be apparent from the foregoing paragraphs taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing Without further detailed description.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed it is understood that minor changs in the details of construction, combination and arrangement of co-operating parts may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

l9. It will be observed that the bolts I claim:

A reinforcing member for hand tools, a tool head having an eye, a handle having one end fitted in the eye of said head, said handle having a longitudinal slot, a metal plate adapted to be driven in the slot of said handle having a wedge shaped end for expanding the portion of the handle engaged in the eye of said tool head, a pair of elongated slot formed in said metal plate in spaced apart relation along the longitudinal axis of the plate, said handle having transverse openings therethrough adapted to intersect the slots of said plate, bolts passing through the openings of said handle and slots of said plate, said bolts having shoulders formed thereon in engaging relation to the side of said metal plate, the shoulder of one bolt being positioned on one side of the plate while the shoulder of the other bolt is positioned on the opposite side of the plate whereby the plate is flexed in opposite directions upon tightening the bolts, and friction collars mounted on the bolts between the shoulders and side of the plate adapted to be forced into holding engagement with the plate upon tightening of said bolts.

VALENTINE JOHN KOSIANCIC. 

